Prentice Hall and other publishers, in response to criticism over textbook errors, are trying to get teachers the most up-to-date versions over the World Wide Web. Following are two experiments from ExploringPhysical Science that were corrected between the 1995 and 1997 versions. The revised copy is also posted at www.phschool.com/head_sh/LEP/index.html.
Density:
Look closely at the accompanying photograph (below left). It shows the densities of some common substances. As you can see, some objects float in water and others sink.
The publisher changed the densities of rubber and steel to levels at which they would float or sink as indicated in the picture.
Prism:
In the original version of the graphic at right, the colors of the spectrum are reversed. One critic of the text claims the experiment still does not work.